25th Anniversary of the Friends of Van Cortlandt Park

The Friends of Van Cortlandt Park (FVCP) is pleased to announce that we will be celebrating our 25th Anniversary in 2017. Founded in 1992, the Friends of Van Cortlandt Park is an independent community based organization that actively promotes the conservation and improvement of Van Cortlandt Park, the third largest park in NYC, through environmental education and restoration and enhancement of Van Cortlandt Park, its forests and trails. We will be celebrating our 25th Anniversary with a variety of special events throughout the year.

“Twenty-five years ago, I along with five civic-minded friends began FVCP.” said Felicity Nitz, FVCP Founder and current Board Member. “We collaborated with Riverdale Neighborhood House to bring teens to work in the park. Little did we know this was the genesis of 25 years of advocacy for and change in this jewel of the Bronx. It is a time of celebration– for the work of our excellent Executive Director, our hard-working Board of Directors, some of whom have been on the board since its inception, all the teens who have worked with us as well as the many other volunteers who have, and for the Van Cortlandt Park community, which is not just the neighbors of the park but also the many visitors from all over city and state as well. We are all proud of our many accomplishments.”Visit our timeline to see our various accomplishments over the last 25 years.FVCP now provides a wide variety of educational, stewardship and community benefit programs with the focus of Bringing Youth, Community and Nature Together!. Over the next several years, in addition to our usual programming, FVCP will be dedicated to the implementation of projects in the 2034 Van Cortlandt Park Master Plan, which will guide the City’s restoration of Van Cortlandt Park’s natural beauty and provide solutions for the needs of all neighboring communities. In the Master Plan are two signature initiatives for FVCP, (1) the completion of our 2009 Trails Plan, which was drafted by the New York-New Jersey Trail Conference; and (2) the continued implementation of our newest initiative: “Wetland Stewardship for a Healthier Bronx,” which will improve the health of the existing wetlands and highlight the need to daylight Tibbetts Brook both inside and south of the Park.

“The 25th anniversary of the Friends of Van Cortlandt Park should be a moment of pride for not just the organization but all the partners that have made our successes possible.” said FVCP Board Chair Christopher Rizzo, “These partners include our dedicated staff, current and former board members, hundreds of volunteers, thousands of students, individual and corporate members, NYC Parks staff and elected officials. Together we’ve raised millions of dollars to maintain and improve the park. As we chart our path for the next 25 years we face an even bigger goal– implementation of the 2034 Van Cortlandt Park Master Plan. I’m confident this special partnership of public and private leaders will make the next 25 years an even bigger success.”

Congratulations and Thank You to the Friends:“Congratulations to the Friends of Van Cortlandt Park as you celebrate 25 years of advocating for and supporting a vital community resource- Van Cortlandt Park. As a fan of the Park and the organization, I truly appreciate all that you have done over the years to bring youth, community and nature together.” NYC Councilman Andrew Cohen

“Thank you to the Friends of Van Cortlandt Park for 25 years of fantastic work on behalf of the city’s greatest park. As a life-long user of the park and its representative I appreciate all of the efforts and projects that the members of FVCP have done to make the park even greater.” NYS Assemblyman Jeffrey Dinowitz

“For 25 years the Friends of Van Cortlandt Park have worked to protect the incredible natural beauty of Van Cortlandt Park for all New Yorkers. I have worked closely with this wonderful organization many years and I have always marveled at the dedication and commitment of their membership to preserving our magnificent park for future generations. Congratulations to the Friends on 25 amazing years and here’s to many more incredible years to come!” Congressman Eliot Engel

“I applaud the Friends of Van Cortlandt Park for their tireless efforts over the last 25 years to restore and improve a true Bronx gem – Van Cortlandt Park. Advocating for our green spaces is vital to the preservation of the city and I look forward to many more years of work by the FVCP.” NYS Senator Jeff Klein

Upcoming Events to Celebrate:25th Anniversary Hike on Saturday May 20th at 10am meeting at FVCP’s Compost Site. FVCP’s Executive Director will guide a hike throughout the Park showcasing some of FVCP’s accomplishments and upcoming projects.

Picnic Supper & Concert on the evening of Tuesday June 13th. Join FVCP and the Van Cortlandt House Museum for a picnic supper with libations beneath a tent and VIP seating at the NY Philharmonic Concert. Tickets will go on sale now.

Hike-toberfest 2017 will be held on Saturday September 23rd. Hike, eat, drink and celebrate with friends during our fun fundraiser for the hiking trails of Van Cortlandt Park.

25th Anniversary Galawill be held on Sunday October 15th from 6-9pm at the Van Cortlandt Golf Lake House.